Panasonic FT7 vs Sony RX100 III

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 (called Panasonic TS7 in some regions) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively,
in May 2018 and May 2014. Both the FT7 and the RX100 III are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (FT7) and an one-inch (RX100 III) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 and the
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Panasonic FT7 vs Sony RX100 III

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic FT7 and the Sony RX100 III. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The FT7 can be obtained in three different colors (black, blue, orange), while the RX100 III is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Sony RX100 III is considerably smaller (33 percent) than the Panasonic FT7. Moreover, the RX100 III is markedly lighter (9 percent) than the FT7. It is worth mentioning in this context that the FT7 is splash and dust resistant,
while the RX100 III does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the FT7 is water-proof up to 31m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

Concerning battery life, the FT7 gets 300 shots out of its DMW-BCM13 battery,
while the RX100 III can take 320 images on a single charge of its NP-BX1 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The FT7 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 44 percent) than the RX100 III, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Panasonic FT7 vs Sony RX100 III

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic FT7 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Sony RX100 III
an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX100 III is 314 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.7. The sensor in the FT7 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the RX100 III offers a 3:2 aspect.

In terms of underlying technology, both cameras are build around BSI-CMOS sensors.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Panasonic FT7 offers a higher
resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 20 MP of the Sony RX100 III.
This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel
(with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 2.41μm for the RX100 III). However, it should be noted that the FT7 is much more recent (by 3 years and 11 months) than the RX100 III, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 80-6400.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Panasonic FT7»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic FT7

Sony RX100 III«

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

22.4

12.3

495

67

Sony RX100 III

Canon SX740«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Canon SX740

Canon G1 X Mark III«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon G1 X Mark III

Canon SX730«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon SX730

Canon G5 X«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon G5 X

Canon G7 X«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

23.0

12.7

556

71

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm X-A5«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/15p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-A5

Fujifilm XF10«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/15p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm XF10

Nikon W300«»

1/2.3

15.9

4608

3456

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Nikon W300

Panasonic TZ95«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic TZ95

Panasonic TZ90«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

19.1

10.6

106

36

Panasonic TZ90

Panasonic FZ82«»

1/2.3

18.0

4896

3672

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic FZ82

Ricoh WG-6«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Ricoh WG-6

Sony RX100 IV«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

22.8

12.6

591

70

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 II«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

22.5

12.4

483

67

Sony RX100 II

Sony RX100«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

22.6

12.4

390

66

Sony RX100

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the FT7 provides a higher video resolution than the RX100 III. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Panasonic FT7 vs Sony RX100 III

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the RX100 III offers a higher resolution than the one in the FT7 (1440k vs 1170k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic FT7 and Sony RX100 III along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Panasonic FT7»

1170

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/1300s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic FT7

Sony RX100 III«

1440

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 III

Canon SX740«»

-

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

1/3200s

10.0

Y

Y

Canon SX740

Canon G1 X Mark III«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/2000s

9.0

Y

Y

Canon G1 X Mark III

Canon SX730«»

-

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

1/3200s

5.9

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Canon G5 X«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/2000s

5.9

Y

Y

Canon G5 X

Canon G7 X«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

6.5

Y

Y

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm X-A5«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-A5

Fujifilm XF10«»

-

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Fujifilm XF10

Nikon W300«»

-

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

1/4000s

7.0

Y

Y

Nikon W300

Panasonic TZ95«»

2330

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TZ95

Panasonic TZ90«»

1166

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TZ90

Panasonic FZ82«»

1166

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

1/2000s

10

Y

Y

Panasonic FZ82

Ricoh WG-6«»

-

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/4000s

1.0

Y

n

Ricoh WG-6

Sony RX100 IV«»

2359

n

3.0

1228

tilting

n

1/2000s

16.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 II«»

-

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 II

Sony RX100«»

-

n

3.0

1229

fixed

n

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100

The RX100 III has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by
vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the FT7 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while
others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the FT7 is one of those camera that have an additional
electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Both the FT7 and the RX100 III have zoom lenses built in. The FT7 has a 28-128mm f/3.3-5.9 optic and the RX100 III offers a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Sony provides a wider angle of view at the short end than the Panasonic, but less tele-photo reach at the long end. The RX100 III offers the faster maximum aperture.

The FT7 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the RX100 III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison: Panasonic FT7 vs Sony RX100 III

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Panasonic FT7»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic FT7

Sony RX100 III«

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 III

Canon SX740«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SX740

Canon G1 X Mark III«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon G1 X Mark III

Canon SX730«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Canon G5 X«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G5 X

Canon G7 X«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm X-A5«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm X-A5

Fujifilm XF10«»

-

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm XF10

Nikon W300«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Nikon W300

Panasonic TZ95«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic TZ95

Panasonic TZ90«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic TZ90

Panasonic FZ82«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic FZ82

Ricoh WG-6«»

-

mono

mono

-

-

micro

3.0

-

-

-

Ricoh WG-6

Sony RX100 IV«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 II

Sony RX100«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

-

-

-

Sony RX100

The FT7 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic.
In contrast, the RX100 III has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the RX100 III was succeeded by the Sony RX100 IV. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official
Panasonic and Sony websites.

Review summary: Panasonic FT7 vs Sony RX100 III

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic FT7 and the Sony RX100 III? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in May 2014).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX100 III is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 8 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

FT7 08:14 RX100 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic FT7 and the Sony RX100 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best Travel-Zoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the FT7 and the RX100 III in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews: Panasonic FT7 vs Sony RX100 III

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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